Will the Cpap machine help with Migraine Headaches?

by Debbie
(Orlando, FL )

If you are prone to Migraine Headaches will using the cpap machine help with Migraine Headaches or increase the migrain headaches?

Answer

Debbie, you gave too litle information about your situation, so I will speak in general terms. What comes to mind related to migraine headaches is:

• blood pressure - Many people have high blood pressure in the morning. I have tracked headaches to high blood pressure so I suppose you might have the same experience.


• untreated or undertreated obstructive sleep apnea - This would raise blood pressure for that matter. As much as swelling affects OSA allergies or illness is likely to make any treatments you are using less effective. If OSA is under treated then the increased OSA could bring it's usual symptoms which include higher reaction times, emotional liability, reduced problem solving capability, and a tendency to fall asleep at the wheel. Definitely safety related.
  
  If I were you I think I would be working with my doctor to determine if I am having blood pressure issues and that my OSA treatment is effective. You might ask him what you could use in case of a cold to keep your airway passage treatable by whatever method you are using.


• chronic hypercapnia - Morning headaches are often symptoms of chronic hypercapnia due to carbon dioxide retention at night. The CO2 causes the blood vessels in the head to dilate causing a migraine.

In general, if you have sleep apnea, your migrains can disappear with a CPAP machine.

The headaches are a direct result of oxygen deprivation, and untill you use the machine every time you sleep, most likely they will not go away, or may even get worse.

To make the therapy work, it has to be used consistantly each time you nap or sleep. The secret, if there is one, is to have a good attitude about it all, and try as many different masks as it takes to find the one that is the most confortable for you.

I don't believe there is anyone on PAP therapy that really likes using it, but we do because it works for us. If you post your CPAP amchine make and mask type, some very informed users will be able to help you through most all the situations you may have with the equipment and how best to use it.

You can learn more about headaches and sleep apnea here.

If you have other experiences and opinions regarding this problem, please comment below.

Remy Thierry
Founder of Sleep Apnea Guide

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